Haas 2025 Recap: Veteran Ocon Outpaced by Rookie Bearman
Veteran driver Esteban Ocon endured a frustrating 2025 season at Haas, unexpectedly losing the intra-team battle to rookie Oliver Bearman who adapted to the car's tricky handling better, finishing the year three points ahead.
Esteban Ocon arrived at Haas in 2025 as the seasoned veteran expected to lead the team. However, his season became a story of frustration as he struggled to adapt to the tricky VF-25, while rookie teammate Oliver Bearman flourished. The Frenchman was ultimately outscored and outperformed, exposing a deep-seated compatibility issue between driver and car that raises questions about his future.
Why it matters:
This result challenges the long-held perception of Ocon as a driver who can consistently extract performance from any machinery. For Haas, it presents a crucial dilemma for the 2026 season: whether to continue building around a proven but struggling veteran or fully back a rookie who has already shown superior pace and adaptability.
The details:
- The season saw a dramatic turnaround. Ocon initially led the qualifying battle 7-3, but from the Spanish GP onward, Bearman dominated 15-5.
- This translated directly to points. Ocon held a comfortable 27-8 lead at the summer break, but scored only 11 points in the final 11 races, while Bearman amassed 33, winning the season-long matchup 51-49.
- Ocon was openly critical of the VF-25's handling, calling it "unmanageable" and saying he "felt like a rookie who's never driven an F1 car." He specifically cited instability under braking.
- Team principal Ayao Komatsu suggested the issue was with Ocon's driving style, noting that his rookie driver could "drive around" the car's problems, a solution he encouraged Ocon to find.
- Despite the on-track struggles, Ocon was praised as a model teammate, notably letting Bearman pass unbidden at Spa to help the team's cause, countering his reputation for difficult teammate relationships.
What's next:
The 2026 season is now a critical proving ground for Ocon. He must rediscover the form that has defined much of his career and prove he can be the consistent points-scorer Haas needs. Meanwhile, Bearman will only enter his second season with more confidence and momentum, setting the stage for another intense intra-team battle.